ZipPicks Awards
Best Spanish in Belmont & Fordham
Master Critic Review
Lena
7.6
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Hidden Gems Heaven
Lena is a tiny, cash-friendly counter spot off Webster Avenue where trays of rice, beans, pernil, and tacos make up most of the orders. Regulars come for very affordable Spanish and Mexican plates that feel more like a neighborhood kitchen than a formal restaurant.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pernil with rice and beans, Chicken tacos, Beef tacos
Scores:
Value: 8.3
Service: 7.4
Consistency: 7.5
Food Quality: 8
Atmosphere: 6
Cultural Relevance: 7.2
What makes it special: No-frills counter where rice, beans, and pernil stay reliably cheap.
Who should go: Solo diners and locals chasing maximum value per plate.
When to visit: Daytime or early evening before popular plates sell out.
What to order: Pernil with rice and beans, chicken tacos, beef tacos.
Insider tip: Bring cash and ask what just came out of the kitchen.